Timmy Rides on Two Wheels!

Timmy has had a lot of anxiety when it came to learning how to ride a bike. So this Summer I told him that everyday his job was to practice riding his bike with no training wheels. He tried it once and said that he thought it was something he would like to do when he was seven. I told him six was the perfect age and that I would come out and help him. It only took about two days and then Timmy was off riding his bike all by himself!

Well, kind of by himself. He had a whole fan club to cheer him on while he rode around the neighborhood.

Way to go Timmy!!

Attention, Please!

I guess Sam was feeling a little left out. So for a little attention he reverted back into being the baby for a while. Then when he had had enough hugs, kisses and pictures he was okay with being Sammy again!

Last Day of School

Matthew had a great year in 2nd grade. He loved Ms. Smith. She really had a fun way of doing things. She let the kids have "healthy breakfast" and she was able to let their creativity shine by doing curiosity projects. Matthew really blossomed under her teaching style.

Timmy got the best kindergarten teacher we could have ever asked for. Mrs. Humber was very kind but also very structured. Timmy thrives in that kind of environment.

During the last day of school they do a talent show and Timmy's class did a song and dance.

It was so cute and I thought I had it recorded and was very disappointed to find out it didn't work. The kids were all so cute doing the actions and then they were supposed to do free style at one point during the song.
This is Timmy's free style, the charlie brown! I was laughing so hard that I couldn't get a clear picture!
I couldn't have asked for a better way to end the year!
Happy Summer!

5th Grade Promotion

Scott has been promoted and is now moving on to Middle School!

He had a great last year at Chinook but is very excited to move on. He had the best teacher anyone could have asked for. She was so good that I just might have to request that all my kids get Mrs. Ronnie Carlson from now on! She was so positive and devoted so much time and energy into teaching the kids. You could tell she really cared about each one of them!

Congratulations Scott! Middle School ready or not here he comes!

Matthew's Recital

Matthew has done very well this year in piano. He started with a new teacher and this was his very first recital. He did a duet with his teacher for one song and then Matthew was so excited that he chose two more songs to play even though I think they were only supposed to choose one!

Way to go Matthew!

Just Keep Swimming!

While Timmy and Matthew were in baseball Bethany and Scott needed something to do so I signed them up for swimming lessons. This was Bethany's first time and she did really good. At first she was afraid to put her face in the water.

But after a few lessons she was a pro. She loved getting her face wet and could even steamboat out to her teacher.Scott had taken lessons a few times before and was in level 4. He was able to become a stronger swimmer and I he liked learning all of the different strokes.

I would love for him to go through level 6 because at that point they teach them to be lifeguards which would be a really good summer job when he is old enough.Bethany can't wait to sign up for the next session of swim!

Super Fun Time!

Ben is finally super saucer ready!

At first he wasn't sure quite what to do.

Then he decided he loved it!

School Fun

My kids would probably tell me that school and fun do not belong in the same sentence but here is proof that sometimes school can be fun.
Towards the end of the school year Scott's class put on a play about the Boston Tea Party. They did all the directing and behind the scenes stuff themselves. The teacher was just there for crowd control. I was really surprised at what a good job they did pulling all together.
Scott's part was Lord North. He had to find things at home to make his own costume and I think he did a pretty good job. We took his church pants and pulled them up on the inside and stuck a rubber band in them to make them look like knickers. Then we got some old belts, cut off the buckle and stuck them on top of his church shoes. His teacher was very impressed, so impressed that she gave him a free homework pass and to a kid in fifth grade that's like giving him gold!

Scott didn't like the hat because we made it out of paper. I thought it made the outfit even better.

Matthew's class went on several field trips towards the end of school. They went to OMSI and to Franz Bakery. He had a great time at both places but I think he especially liked Franz Bakery. This is a picture of him dressed up in all the stuff they gave him. He was thrilled because they also gave each person a mini loaf of bread.

See school can be fun!

Just Me and My Grandpa!

When Grandpa comes home from work wherever Ben is he watches Grandpa until he notices him.

When he finally does he gives Grandpa the biggest grin! Ben loves his Grandpa Lay!

Our Family

I can't believe how much my family has grown!

I love them all so much and am grateful to be a part of their lives!

School Talent Show

Matthew was so excited to be in the talent show at school. At first he couldn't decide what to do. He wanted to do a jump rope routine but he also wanted to play the piano. He finally decided he would play the piano and he did great! I was so proud of him for being in the show because I know how hard it is to get up and play in front of people, especially that many people.

Notice Anything Different?

Scott got braces!!

Ben's First Real Food

I'm not sure Ben knew what to think when we set him in the bumbo chair and started putting rice in his mouth.

But I think in the end he liked it. Either that or he was really enjoying all of the attention we were giving him!

School Carnival

Every year the elementary school has a carnival with games, bounce houses, a cake walk, and a cake decorating contest. It's lots of fun and we enjoy participating. This year Andy made a turtle cake to donate to the cake walk.

Matthew entered his castle cake into the cake decorating contest. It took longer than we had thought so to get it done in time Andy had to help him do the crumb coat and I had to help him cut the corners off the cake so he could fit the cup cakes in for the towers but if Andy or I tried to help with anything else he would get mad.
Matthew won first prize and a gift card to go to Big Al's arcade and bowling alley.
We had a fun time as a family at the carnival. In years' past we have always done the cake walk and we have never won anything. This year every time Scott did the cake walk he won. After he won two cakes I told him he wasn't allowed to do it again! There was no way we were going to be able to eat all that cake!

He was cool with that! He got the cake he wanted!

Goodbye Field, Hello Houses!

When my parents bought their house they knew that someday houses might be built in the field next to them. Well that day has come. Before we even knew about this, for some reason grandpa decided to put up a fence and a good thing he did because Sam can open the doors to get outside and likes to explore. I can't imagine what life would be like without the fence and construction going on next door.

My older kids were sad because they love to go out in the field and play, shoot the BB gun and ride their bikes.
Well at least Sam is happy to stand out there all day and watch the men work.